Catholic Church too slow in aiding abuse victims: Vatican panel

The Vatican's child protection commission criticised senior Catholic leaders in an annual report on Oct 16 for not moving quickly enough to help victims of sexual abuse by clergy and to implement new safeguarding efforts worldwide.

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For decades, the 14 billion-member Church has been shaken by scandals across the world involving abuse and cover-up, damaging its credibility and costing it hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

The new report faulted Church leaders for not providing information to victims about how their reports of abuse were being handled, or whether negligent bishops had been sanctioned.

It also said the commission's own requests for information about safeguarding protocols had not always been answered.

“In many cases... victims/survivors report that the Church has responded with empty settlements, performative gestures and a persistent refusal to engage with victims/survivors in good faith,’ said the report.

The Vatican commission, created by the late Pope Francis in 2014, had been roiled by the resignations of several of its members over the years and issued its first annual report only in 2024.

The new report, spanning 103 pages, is the commission’s most substantial text yet and is frequently critical of Church leadership, without naming individuals.